A Triphasic Sorting System: Coordination Cages in Ionic Liquids. Issue 50 (23rd October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grommet, Angela B.; Bolliger, Jeanne L.; Browne, Colm; Nitschke, Jonathan R.
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 54:Issue 50(2015)
• Page Start: 15100
• Page End: 15104
• Publication Date: 2015-10-23
• Subjects: coordination cages -- encapsulation -- host–guest systems -- ionic liquid -- supramolecular chemistry; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201505774
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

Abstract: Host–guest chemistry is usually carried out in either water or organic solvents. To investigate the utility of alternative solvents, three different coordination cages were dissolved in neat ionic liquids. By using 19 F NMR spectroscopy to monitor the presence of free and bound guest molecules, all three cages were demonstrated to be stable and capable of encapsulating guests in ionic solution. Different cages were found to preferentially dissolve in different phases, allowing for the design of a triphasic sorting system. Within this system, three coordination cages, namely Fe4 L6 2, Fe8 L12 3, and Fe4 L4 4, each segregated into a distinct layer. Upon the addition of a mixture of three different guests, each cage (in each separate layer) selectively bound its preferred guest. Abstract : All sorted : In ionic‐liquid solutions, coordination cages were shown to be stable and capable of selectively encapsulating guests. A triphasic sorting system was designed, comprising water and two mutually immiscible hydrophobic ionic liquids, such that three different coordination cages were each soluble in a single layer. Upon addition of a mixture of three different guests, each cage bound its preferred guest.